Chimp Attack? AH!!

I was reading an article from Time Magazine about a 70-year-old lady, Sandra Herold, who had raised a chimp along with her family. This chimp was just another member of her family, but one day something snapped, and the chimp turned on a visitor that came to see Sandra. The animal latched onto the woman and basically tore her face apart. Sandra could not get the chimp off of her friend and eventually the police had to shoot it after the animal began to go after one of the policemen. The woman who was mauled is still in critical condition.
Personally, I do not think people in a city should have an exotic animal for a pet. I realize that some dogs can have "mood swings" and attack people as well, but a chimpanzee? Isn't that why they live in jungles? I think it is where they belong, and keeping one hostage in a house was just asking for trouble.

Sarah Palin vs. Endangered Animals

Today I read a piece from Mother Jones about Sarah Palin trying to make a case that polar bears and beluga whales should not be put on the endangered species list. From what I read in the article, both populations are dangerously low and not recovering at the moment. Apparently, Palin is worried about the oil companies in the particular area that the whales live in. This makes me wonder if she is solely concerned with the economy and not overly worried about the animals.
Also, the article mentions that Palin used to play basketball at her high school and acquired the nick name Sarah Barracuda". That made me laugh a little bit because the article used the fish reference a few times, making it fairly entertaining. :)

"Nimby Wars" in Forbes Magazine

Today i read an article in Forbes Magazine about a wind mill company wishing to put a plant near some homes, in their "back yards". The people in the town were appalled and did not approve of this and wound up protesting and putting off the building for a year. But after some persuasion attempts and ending in a vote by county members, the wind mill company won and the plant will be built in 2010. I feel bad for the families that live there who will be disturbed by the building and everything. I realize it will create jobs, but I do not see why they need to build it in that exact spot. There are no vacant fields anywhere that would work?

"DC: The 51st State?" from Mother Jones

The article I read in Mother Jones was about the debate going on as to whether or not Washington D.C. is going to become a state. Personally, I am against D.C. gaining statehood mainly because I'm positive the controversy over the matter will go one for years following and our nation has more important things to spend its time on, such as the war on Iraq. Not to mention the possible political power swing the article mentioned, since D.C. is 92% democratic. Also, what some may consider a minor detail, what will they do with the American Flag? Just add another star? Although I do think the people or Washington D.C. should be represented in congress somehow, I do not approve of them gaining statehood.